Aquatic devices



J. C. BAISCH AQUATIC DEVICES May 7, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 12, 1958 INVENTOR.

J. C. BAISCH AQUATIC DEVICES May 7, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 12, 1958 mull @AVMI INVENTOR.

United States Patent i 3,088,139 AQUATIC DEVICES John Carroll Baisch, 609 S. Washington Ave., Whittier, Calif. Filed Nov. 12, 1958, Ser. No. 773,335 6 Claims. (Cl. 9-347) This invention relates generally to aquatic devices and relates more particularly to a floating seat.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a comfortable inflatable floating seat for use in swimming pools and the like.

It is another object of the invention to provide a device of this character that is easy to get into and out of when in the water.

It is still another object of the invention to provide a device of this character having means for selectively adjusting the effective position of the body supporting bottom of the device relative to the inflated portion so that the body of the user may be submerged in the water to different depths as desired.

It is a further object of the invention to provide means whereby said adjustment may be easily and quickly made.

It is a still further object of the invention to provide a device of this character of extremely simple construction of a minimum number of parts.

It. is another object of the invention to provide a device of this character wherein the inflatable portion and the sides and back may be formed of a single piece or sheet of flexible plastic or other suitable material.

It is still another object of the invention to provide a device of this character wherein the side or arm portions are urged toward each other to the desired position when a person is seated in the device.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a de-! vice of this character that is relatively inexpensive to manufacture.

The characteristics and advantages of the invention are further sufficiently referred to in connection with the following detailed description of the accompanying drawings which represent certain embodiments. After considering these examples, skilled persons will understand that variations may be made without departing from the principles disclosed, and I contemplate the employment of any structures, arrangements or modes of operation thatare properly within the scope of the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a floating seat embodying the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the same;

FIG. 3 is a front view of the device;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken on line 44 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken on line 55 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a plan view of the inflatable tubular part of the device with the back and side walls supported thereby;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken on line 7-7 of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken on line 88 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 9 is a plan view of an alternative arrangement of the inflatable tubular part of the device with the longitudinal strip to which the bottom is connected;

FIG. 10 is a plan view of the bottom; and

FIG. 11 is an enlarged fragmentary view showing the bottom connected to the supporting strip of the tubular part.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the device comprises an inflatable tubular portion, indicated 3,688,139 Patented May 7, 1963 ICC,

generally at 10, from which depends a back 12 and sides 14. These parts are made of flexible material of suitable character such as flexible plastic of well-known character, one such plastic material being polyethylene.

There is a bottom 16 of suitable sheet material such as, for example, a flexible plastic such as mentioned above. The rear and side edges of the bottom 16 are secured to the lower edges or edge portions of the back and sides respectively by any suitable means such as, for example, a heat seal as indicated at 18.

The method of making the parts above described comprises taking a sheet of plastic material of suitable dimensions and shape, turning back an end part 2.2 and sealing the three marginal edges 24 of said part to the adjacent underlying parts, as shown in FIG. 6, of the sheet by means of heat sealing or other suitable means to provide the inflatable part 10. This part of the device is best shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the inflatable part then being tubular. A valve 26, of any suitable character, is secured to the tubular portion so that this tubular portion may be inflated or deflated with air or any other suitable gas. There are various types of valves on the market that are well-known and the details thereof are not a part of this invention so that a further description of the valve is believed to be unnecessary.

The flexible bottom 16 is then secured to the back and sides of the device as has already been described.

When the tubular inflatable part 10 is then inflated, it will tend to crease a limited amount, as at the spaced points 30 so that there is an intermediate part 32 at the back and sides 34. Because of the pressure of air within the tubular inflatable part 10, the tendency thereof is to straighten out but the free ends thereof are held in spaced relationship to each other, as shown in FIG. 1, by the front of the flexible bottom 16 and the sides 14, the length of the inflatable tube being greater than the combined width of the front end of the bottom and the front ends of the sides.

The depth to which the users body will be immersed in the water may be varied. With the parts above described, the body will be immersed the maximum amount.

The means to reduce the amount of immersion of the users body comprises a sheet of relatively stiff material 38 which may be plastic or any other suitable material. The length and width of the bottom insert 38 is such as to maintain the back 12 and sides 14 sufliciently spread apart so as to take up a predetermined amount of slack thereof and raise the bottom 16 above the level it has without the insert. In order to retain the insert in position, the flexible bottom 16 is provided at its forward edge with a narrow flap 16a which overlies the front edge portion of the insert member 38, the flap 16a being secured along its side edges 16b to the adjacent portion of the bottom 16 by means of heat sealing or the like.

When the device is in the water and is being used, the occupant may lean back against the inflated part 32 and rest his or her arms on the side parts 34. The occupants weight will cause the forward or front ends of the sides 14 to be pulled downwardly and toward a vertical position so that the free ends of the side parts 34 of the inflated tube are pulled inwardly, as best shown in FIG. 3. As the back 12 is longer than the front ends of the sides 14, the lower edges of said sides tapering toward the back, the occupants body tends to lean backward a suflicient amount so that there will not be an overbalancing forwardly. However, it has been found that it is easy to lean forward and get out of the device. Also, it has been found very easy to get into the device when it is in the water.

Should it be desired to be immersed to a greater depth, the insert 38 may be readily removed by raising the rear and pulling it from beneath the inflated tubular part 3 and then slipping the forward edge portion from beenath the flap 16a.

It has been found that with the insert 38 removed, the user will sit deeper in the water. Also, it has been found that the weight of the users legs on the forward portion of the flexible bottom 16 will pull the forward end portions of the sides 14 inwardly toward each other and thus pull the free ends of the side parts 34 of the inflated tube toward each other as above described. This action provides proper balance for the device.

Referring to FIG. 9, there is an inflatable tubular portion It). There is also a supporting strip 44 which extends longitudinally of the tubular portion and projects beyond the longitudinally sealed edge 24, the strip 44 being provided with a series of longitudinally spaced grommets 46.

This arrangement has a seat bottom 47 of suitable size and of any desired material which may be flexible or rigid. Should a flexible material be used, it may be of any suitable character such as, for example, a flexible plastic as hereinabove described in connection with the arrangement shown in FIGS. 1 to 8. Should a relatively rigid material be used, it may also be of plastic, for example, having the desired characteristics. The bottom 47 has side edges 48, a rear edge 50 and a front edge 52 and there is a grommet 54 at each corner. Intermediate grommets 54a are provided along the side edges 48 in spaced relation to each other and to the adjacent corner grommets. Intermediate grommets 54b are provided adjacent the rear edge 50 and spaced apart relative to each other and the respective rear corner grommets 54.

The bottom 47 is secured to the supporting strip 44 by means of a cord 60, best shown in FIG. 11. The cord may be of any suitable material such as, for example, plastic or the like and is threaded through the grommets of the bottom 47 and supporting strip 44 in any suitable manner and is secured in any suitable manner. For example, one arrangement for threading the cord and securing same is shown in FIG. 11. In this figure, the ends of the cord 60 are received in the end grommets 46 of the strip 44 and are provided with knots 62 which are large enough so they will not pass through the openings of the grommets. From the end or front grommet 46 at one side of the device, the cord 60 passes downwardly through the adjacent corner grommet 54 of the bottom 47 and is passed through said grommet a second time as indicated at 60a. The cord then extends rearwardly and upwardly into the second grommet 46 from the adjacent end of the strip 44 and is passed therethrough, a second turn 6% being made through said second grommet. From the second grommet, the cord extends downwardly and is passed through the first grommet 54a rearwardly of the adjacent corner grommet and a second turn 600 is made through said grommet 54a. From the latter grommet the cord extends upwardly and rearwardly to the next grommet 46. The threading and turning of the cord through the grommets is continued to the rear of the device, thence across the rear and then forwardly along the opposite side. When the bottom 47 has been lashed or laced to the inflatable part 10, the latter will have substantially the same shape as the arrangement shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3. As in FIGS. 1 and 2, the arm portions will be held together in spaced relationship, as the front edge portion 52 of the bottom 47 and the cord portions between the front corners thereof and the front ends of the inflatable part or tubular portion, are of less length than said inflatable tubular portion. When the device is unoccupied, the spacing will be similar to that shown in FIG. 1 and when the device is occupied, the front ends of the arm parts will be drawn closer together as shown in FIG. 3.

In the arrangement of FIGS. 9 to 11, it is desirable to have the cord held against slippage in the grommets and the threading of the cord through the grommets a plurality of times is one means for holding said cord against such slippage. Other means may also be used such as, for example, tying the cord to the grommets or knotting the cord at one or both sides of the grommets.

The bottom 47 may be inclined toward the rear or arranged in any desired manner.

It is also to be noted that while the back 12 and sides 14 are integral with the tubular portion and such arrangement is believed to be novel, these parts may be separate from said tubular portion and secured thereto by heat sealing or any other suitable means. The same is true of the strip.

Further, while the inflated tubular portion is shown as creasing at a plurality of places dividing it into a back and side arms, it may crease at other places and even initially crease at one place intermediate the ends.

It is thought that the invention and many of its attendant advantages will be understood from the foregoing description and it is believed that it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts of the invention without departing from the spirit and scope thereof or sacrificing all of its material advantages, the forms hereinbefore described being merely for illustrative purposes.

I claim:

1. An inflatable floating seat, comprising: an inflatable tube of flexible plastic; back and side members of flexible sheet plastic depending from the lower side of said tube; a flexible plastic bottom having its rear and side edges secured to the lower free edges of the back and side members respectively, the width of the front end of the bottom and the front ends of the side members being less than the length of the tube and holding the free ends of the tube in spaced relationship so that the tube will orease at the back and form a back portion and side portions, the side portions being inclined outwardly and forwardly of the back portion; a flap along the forward edge of the flexible bottom, said flap being turned rearwardly over the front edge portion of said bottom and secured at its ends to adjacent portions of the bottom to form a rearwardly opening pocket; and a relatively rigid bottom insert having its front edge portion removably received in said pocket and held against forward displacement of said rigid insert, the insert being of sufficient width and length to spread the flexible bottom and sides sufficiently to hold the flexible bottom in a position relative to the inflatable tube above the position said flexible bottom will have when said insert is removed.

2. An inflatable floating seat, comprising: an inflatable tube; flexible back and side members depending from the under side of said tube; a flexible bottom having its rear and side edges secured to the lower edges of the back and side members respectively, the width of the front end of the bottom and the front ends of the side members being less than the length of the tube so as to hold the free ends of the tube in spaced relationship so that the tube will crease at the back and form a back portion and side portions, the side portions being inclined outwardly .and forwardly of the back portion; a flap along the free forward edge of the bottom and on top side thereof and extending rearwardly with the rear edge free and a relatively rigid bottom insert on said flexible bottom and having its front edge portion removably received under the flap to prevent forward displacement of said rigid insert, the insert being of sufficient width and length to spread the flexible bottom and sides sufliciently to hold the flexible bottom in a position relative to the inflatable tube above the position said flexible bottom will have when said insert is removed.

3. In an inflatable floating seat, comprising: a continuous inflatable tube tending to straighten out when inflated; back and side member of sheet material depending from said tube; a flexible bottom having its rear and side edges secured to the back and side members respectively,

the tube being longer than the width of the front end of the bottom and the front ends of the sides so that the free ends of the tube are held in spaced relationship by the front ends of said flexible bottom and sides and there are portions of the tube diverging forwardly; and a relatively rigid removable bottom insert supported on said flexible bottom.

4. In an inflatable floating seat, comprising: a continuous inflatable tube of flexible material tending to straighten out when inflated; a strip of flexible material extending longitudinally of said tube to form back and side members; a flexible bottom having its rear and side edges secured to the back and side members respectively, the tube being of greater length than the width of the front end of the bottom and the front ends of the sides combined.

5. In an aquatic device: elongated continuous, flexible, inflatable float means having back and side arms, said float means tending to straighten out when inflated; a bottom on which a user may sit; and means interconnecting said bottom and float means including the free end portions of said float means, the interconnecting means having a length at the front end of the device less than the length of said float means, said arms being urged toward each other when there is weight on at least the front end of said bottom.

6. In an inflatable floating seat: a continuous, inflatable tube of flexible sheet plastic; back and side members of flexible sheet plastic depending from the lower side of said tube; and a flexible plastic bottom having its rear and side edges secured to the lower free edges of the back and side members respectively, said bottom being inclined downwardly and rearwardly, the length of said tube being greater than the width of the front end of the bottomand the front ends of the side members so that the bottom and side members hold the free ends of the tube in spaced relationship so that the tube -will crease at the back and form.- side arm portions, the side arm portions being inclined outwardly and forwardly of the back portion and being pulled toward each other when there is weight on at least a portion of said bottom.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,465,790 Ranlett Aug. 21, 1923 1,562,276 Assenzio Nov. 17, 1925 1,569,045 Sommer Jan. 12, 1926 1,960,474 Browne May 29, 1934 2,327,794 Hurt Aug. 24, 1943 2,344,652 Spanner Mar. 21, 1944 2,562,080 Barnes July 24, 1951 2,584,884 Kirby Feb. 5, 1952 2,650,182 Green Aug. 24, 1953 2,681,296 Dobbs et a1 June 15, 1954 2,748,401 Winstead June 5, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS 518,334 Italy Mar. 5, 1955 

4. IN AN INFLATABLE FLOATING SEAT, COMPRISING: A CONTINUOUS INFLATABLE TUBE OF FLEXIBLE MATERIAL TENDING TO STRAIGHTEN OUT WHEN INFLATED; A STRIP OF FLEXIBLE MATERIAL EXTENDING LONGITUDINALLY OF SAID TUBE TO FORM BACK AND SIDE MEMBERS; A FLEXIBLE BOTTOM HAVING ITS REAR AND SIDE EDGES SECURED TO THE BACK AND SIDE MEMBERS RESPECTIVELY THE TUBE BEING OF GREATER LENGTH THAN THE WIDTH OF THE FRONT END OF THE BOTTOM AND THE FRONT ENDS OF THE SIDES COMBINED. 